Anyone who LOVES to sing is welcome to join the Malaspina Choir. New singers are invited to join the choir in September and January of each performing season.

Come to our open house and first rehearsal at 6:00 pm, Tuesday Jan 9, 2018 to learn more about us. The open house, and nearly all rehearsals are Tuesdays, 6:45 pm - 9:15 pm in the Choral Room (105) in the Music Building (320) at Vancouver Island University (see map ).

The Choir is open to members of the community and also to students at Vancouver Island University, who can register in Choir I to VIII (MUSC 151, 152, 251, 252, 351, 352, 451, 452 - see the VIU Music Department Website for more information). Please note that all new singers need to participate in a vocal assessment to be part of the choir; these are normally held after rehearsals and take about 10 minutes. See below for more information about membership.

Musical Plans - 2017-2018 Season - See our Upcoming Concerts page.

Expectations of Malaspina Choir Members

Members are expected to attend all rehearsals. Participation at all pre-concert rehearsals, performances and workshops is mandatory unless the individual’s absence has been approved by our Director.

We all join the Malaspina Choir because we love to sing and we want to enjoy ourselves doing so. We can all help to make this happen by taking responsibility for our own development as a musician, coming to rehearsals prepared and willing to learn, listening carefully and critically as you and others sing; singing when your section is asked to sing and remaining silent when you are not singing. Be attentive, be on time. Work together - the more together we are, the better we are.

Learn your music: sheet music is provided, and the Director provides his chosen YouTube performances for you to practice with other voices.

Attend sectionals, rehearsals and performances throughout the 2017-18 Season as per the timetable in the Members' section. The Fall 2017-18 timetable is already posted, and the Spring timetable is made available in later.

Pay the tuition and costume fee as indicated for the year plus purchase the uniform for your section.

Participate in choir fundraising by selling tickets to Choir performances and events.

Vocal Assessment

Each new member of the Choir will sing for the Artistic Director prior to joining the Choir. This is a positive opportunity for the director to hear where your voice will best fit in the Choir. The director will check our vocal range and your ability to match a sequence of notes. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes. The vocal assessments are held after rehearsals in the first few weeks of the new season.

Registration & Tuition

Tuition for Malaspina Choir in 2017-2018 for the year is $230. (Couples/families pay $210 per person) plus a one-time costume fee of $20 per person.

Payments can be made as follows:

Full payment September 5, 2017 or

Two payments of $115 each on September 5, 2017 and January 9, 2018. Please provide post-dated cheques.

Tuition fees are non-refundable after 30 days of participation. If a member decides after 30 days that they cannot continue, a tax-receipt will be issued for the amount prorated to the period that they are not able to attend.

Please bring your Registration Form and a cheque or post-dated cheques to the first rehearsal. Registration begins at 6 pm. on Tuesday September 5, 2017.

Once you have Joined:

Members’ Area: You will have access to the restricted sections of the website, in which you can find and read:

Malaspina Choir Handbook

The 2017-18 Malaspina Choir Member Handbook is available on this website in the Members section. Each Choir Member needs to read this booklet as it includes all details related to Choir activities for the 2017-18 Season.

Malaspina Choir Membership List

A Choir telephone/email list is produced each year for the use of choir members; you can indicate your willingness to be listed on your registration form.

Our full privacy policy can be found here.

Rehearsals & Sectionals

The Choir rehearses from Tuesday September 8, 2017 through to our final concert in early May 2018. The full rehearsal and performance schedule will be posted term by term on the website under the Members section.

As currently planned, rehearsals will take place from 6:45 to 9:15 p.m. on TUESDAYS in the choral room at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, Building #320, Room 105. Sectional practices are scheduled from 6:45 - 7:25 pm and full choir rehearsal starts at 7:30.

Sectional practices take place in the early part of each term in separate rooms at Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Campus; room numbers will be announced at September rehearsals. Subject to change.

Prior each performance there is a dress rehearsal a day or two before, and occasionally an extra rehearsal is scheduled.

Parking at Vancouver Island University costs $2.50 to park until 8 pm; lots are not patrolled after that time. Credit card and cash accepted. Subject to change.